Loud is the New Insecure

I've come to grips with reality. People are different. Some people are smarter than others. Some people are better looking than others. And regardless of what some may think, nobody is exceptional in every regard. The secret to success is playing to one's strengths.

Unfortunately, it appears that some people have yet to grasp the importance of this idea. Even more frightening is the prospect that there are some that feel that it is a good idea to bring the things they lack to the forefront. This is a misnomer. There is no such thing as physical reverse psychology. If you are unable to carry a tune, don't volunteer to sing in front of people. If you have bad skin, makeup isn't optional. If you can't dance, leave your awkward, non-rhythmic butt glued to your chair.

I suppose people that act this way feel empowered. Like they have some semblance of control over the things they hate most about themselves. But let's face it, that isn't bravery, it's cowardice. Self esteem doesn't come from flaunting anything. Courage is found in how you act despite your imperfections.

If you are a great scrabble player, you be the best scrabbler you can be. If all you've got is a whistling belly button trick, you practice until your navel bleeds. It's all about being the best you can possibly be.

There are some things you can't do much about, but there are lots of things that you can. If you don't like something about yourself, change it. Scene girls, cut back on buying neon, pudgy-body-hugging clothes and concert tickets and try investing in a gym membership. You may find that confidence has less to do with your sunglasses and more to do with hard work. Guys in general, if you don't know how to talk to girls, try picking up a book. It's amazing how much you'll have to say when you have vocabulary that extends beyond what you hear on MTV. I realize that it may not come naturally to some, but take Advil for any headaches, Midol for any cramps.

Ultimately, the world is unfair. Regardless of your efforts, you STILL may find yourself lower on the pecking order than you may like. This, my friends, is the cruel, harsh dose of reality you've been avoiding. I'm sorry, we aren't all beautiful unique snowflakes dancing on the breeze. Some of us are still going to be bizarre unique snowflakes taking a nosedive into a drift of yellow snow. Deal with it!